Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/819

 HISTORY OP SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 707 they are the parents of three children, namely : Ruth, Rose and Floyd. Politically JIr. Euhanks is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to Senath Camp, No. 256, W. 0. W. William ]M. Gudger. At this juncture in a volume devoted to the careers of representa- tive citizens of southeastern Missouri, it is a pleasure to insert a lirief history of the life and work of William M. Gudger, who has ever been on the alert to forward all measures and enterprises projected for the general wel- fare and who is the present efficient incum- bent of the office of president of the ^Madison County Milling Company, an enterprise which reflects credit on Predericktown. William JI. Gudger is strictly a self-made man. the admirable success which he has achieved in the business world of Madison county l)eing the direct result of his own well applied endeavors. He was born in the vicinity of Nashville, Tennessee, the date of his nativity being the 29th of May, 1869. He is a son of John and Nancy (McCreary) Gud- ger. both of whom were natives of North Caro- lina, whence they removed to Tennessee a short time after their marriage. In the early '70s they decided to move still further west, and accordingly came to Missouri, settling at Predericktown. They were the owners of a fine plantation in Tennessee in the ante- bellum days but the ravages of the w'ar prac- tically rained them. The father w'as identi- fied with farming operations during the greater part of his active career and he was .summoned to the life eternal in 1908, when past seventy years of age. The mother died in 1884, in her forty-fifth year. John (iudger was a devout IMethodist in his religious faitli and his wife was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Gudger were the par- ents of five children, two of whom are de- cea.s'ed. Those living are : Henry, who is en- gaged in the railroad business in Texas; Lulu, who is the wife of Henry Roliinson, of St. Praneois county. ^Missouri ; and William 'SI.. the immediate sulijeet of this review. Mr. Gudger grew to young manhood at Predericktown, where his preliminary educa- tional training consisted of such advantages as were afforded in the public schools. Af- ter leaving school he launched out into the business world on his own account, early be- coming interested in milling enterprises. He had no capital to start with but by hard work and careful management he finally forged ahead and today he is recognized as one of the most prominent and influential citizens in this place. He is president of the Madison County ililling Company, which important concern was incorporatecl under the laws of the state of Jlissouri in 1903. In November of that year the present mill was erected and since that time a splendid business has been controlled. The Company is incorporated with a capital stock of twelve thousand dol- lars and the officers are as follows: W. M. Gudger, president; George 0. Smith, secre- tary; and Henry Ward, director. The ca- pacity of the mill is one hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day and two of the lead- ing brands of flour in this section of the state are turned out, namely, "Pride of Madison" and "Lily of the Valley." A force of five men are constantly employed and ninety per cent of the wheat ground comes from local customers. 'Sir. Gudger was formerly asso- ciated in the milling business with ilessrs. DeGuire and Laupher, being a ineml)er of t lie UeGuire ililling Company at Predericktown for some eighteen years. His long association with milling enterprises has made him ex- pert in that particular business and under his careful and wise management the ^ladison County ililling Company has prospered won- derfiilly. In the year 1894 was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. (iudger to Miss Elizabeth Hunter, a native of St. Prancois county. Mis- souri, and a daughter of English parents, who came to America about the year 1873. jIrs. Gudger's father was long engaged in teach- ing in this part of the state and he is now residing at Predericktown. Mr. and IIrs. Gudger have no children living. In politics iIr. Gudger is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and for six or seven years he was a member of the city council of Predericktown. He is now serving on the school board. In Scottish Rite ]Ma.sonry he has attained to the tliirty-second degree and he is also a member of Moolah Temjile, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Mrs. Gudger is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. In their religious faitli they are devout communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church, to whose good work they are lil)eral contributors. ]IosES Rosenthal, ;M. D., in his profes- sional service has been prompted by a laud- able ambition for advancement as well as by